Out & About

Singapore Success: Relocating Your Family For A Fresh Start

Thrifty Tips with children

Using Rewards As A Teaching Tool

I love more my home, but I am the first to admit that it needs a wee bit of work and a bit of love to restore it to its former glory. However, when it comes to home improvements love is often measured by monetary spend.

So I have been slowly improving the home bit by bit, one stage at a time. If I see a cushion in the sale I grab it to breathe life into an old chair. If I catch a glimpse of some chic bric a brac in Age Concern, I rescue it, clean it and bring it home to put on display.

The Binary Box are a store which sell eye-catching, colourful wall stickers. We have two beautiful ones in our home, an enormous map of the world that sits in our dining room and a fabulous blossom tree which has pride of place in our bedroom.

They are the first thing anyone comments on when visiting our home.

They breathe life into walls, create atmosphere in rooms and really stamp orginality on the home.

Plus – they don’t break the bank.

Designs include kids murals, Banksy, Christmas designs, pretty much every type of wall art you can think of, they cover.

This is to be my next purchase – to brighten up the lounge.

I am also mightily tempted to pop this lady out in the hall as well.

I have been a huge fan of the Binary Box for a few years now, my old house was adorned with their wall art and it would seem the new one is going the same way. The Binary Box very kindly gave us the blossom tree to add sparkle to our boudoir but I would highly recommend them regardless.

The quality of the stickers is fantastic, they don’t peel or fade. They are easy to put up (so my husband tells me) and you really have to closely examine them to see that they are stickers at all.

Buying a static caravan is a big investment that needs careful financial consideration. You don’t need to worry about paying the whole lot in one go, but whether or not you’re taking out a finance package, you should think about the additional costs you might incur. So here’s a quick breakdown of what’s included and what’s not when you buy a holiday home at Haven.

Included:

Access to the park’s activities and facilities

One of the main benefits of staying on a holiday park is undoubtedly the access you get to the great facilities, activities and entertainment that will keep the whole family happy. Kids and teenagers will be the first to complain about being bored but on a holiday park there’ll be something to keep them occupied all week.

Most facilities, such as the heated indoor and outdoor swimming pools, are included as standard but as holiday home owners you’ll also be entitled to special privileges on park. For a group of 4 or 5 this is great as it gives you 15% off on purchases around the park – great if you’re eating out! All you need to do is show your privilege card and you’ll also get free sports and leisure activities to save you getting your wallet out.

Not included:

Running costs

After you’ve finished choosing the correct caravan park for your static caravan, it’s time to think about finance. Buying a static caravan isn’t just as simple as paying for the caravan; you’ll also have running costs to pay. This includes your water, gas and electricity bills and to make sure you’re not caught short, it’s a good idea to budget for this. Generally water bills tend to cost around £500 while average gas and electricity bills are around £420.

Site fees

Another additional cost you’ll incur is site fees; covering park maintenance, security, landscaping and the use of the park’s facilities. These fees can be quite costly so it’s best to look into them in advance to avoid any nasty surprises.

One handy tip is to ask how much the site fees are on different parks and on different pitches. Some pitches have higher site fees than others so doing your research could save you some money. You could even treat yourself to a meal out with the money you save!

The SafeGrip rugged case and stand for the iPad is a bit of a godsend.

Put simply it is an ultra sturdy case for an iPad that makes it safe to live in a house with preschooler and over exuberant seven year olds. We first got an iPad almost twelve months ago and within 12 hours of owning it my beloved then two year old daughter launched it out of the car window. It didn’t survive the fall.

When we saved enough pennies and spoke to the insurance man we invested in a new iPad, but the fear never left us. What if she did it again?

We invested in a case but it never truly looked sturdy enough so when she gets her turn on the tablet I tend to be glued to her side.

The we were introduced to SafeGrip.

Features

Tough, padded protection against drops and bumps

Built to survive the outdoors, kids and shared-use environments

Protects screen against scratches and smudges

Handle for carrying, ideal for kids and prevents drops

Handle doubles as a stand with type and view modes

Built-in stylus holder and personalization pocket

Preserves access to all ports

Protects iPad 2 through iPad 4

Thoughts

We love it, the case gives us peace of mind, but also it works as a great stand so the iPad doubles as a TV screen when I am cooking in the kitchen. My little one can carry the case with confidence using the handle but as parents we don’t feel like we are handling a toy. It gets a big thumbs up from us.

How much is it?

The version my daughter is modeling above is £39.99 and can be purchased here. It may sound expensive, however when you have seen your iPad smashed to smithereens on the floor it seems perfectly justified!

To anyone who likes their technology in one piece and has an energetic family like ours I would highly recommend.